In business, setting yourself apart from the competition is crucial. While there are many ways to do this, one way is to find what sets you apart and makes people want to discover more of what you have to offer. One option to achieve this is by incorporating NFC into your enterprise and branded consumer apps.

What exactly is NFC?

NFC stands for Near Field Communication. Tap two NFC-capable devices together gently, or just hold them near each other, and share data. One device can also read data stored on inexpensive chips called tags.

How does NFC work?

NFC transfers information from device to device via radio waves. In the case of tags, the NFC chip in a powered device induces a small current in the tag to activate it.

Currently there are three modes of operation supported by the NFC standard. They are:

Peer-to-peer mode: Where two devices exchange information with one another with a simple tap together

Read/write mode: Where the device links to another device to read information from it

Card Emulation: Where the device can be used as a credit card to make payments or be used for things such as public transportation

With these different modes, an NFC-enabled device can act as a unique identifier, an information reader, or a data transfer conduit.

Benefits for the Consumer

Consumers are constantly looking for little "life hacks" that can aid in their daily lives. Anything that can streamline their day is desirable. NFC is one way to cater to your customer’s needs.

No one wants to spend the day waiting in line, right? Contactless payment systems help speed transactions through. Instead of fishing for cash or credit cards, consumers can simply wave their phones at a payment terminal. The same wave that deducts funds to pay can also record the transaction in the retailer's loyalty app.
Virtual payments using NFC are growing in popularity quickly, as everyone loves shorter wait time and easy access to coupons. Happy customers mean repeat sales and great word-of-mouth for your business.

Benefits for the Business

NFC doesn’t just help consumers. Businesses have as much to gain from taking advantage of this technology in enterprise apps. Virtual business cards can be exchanged with a tap. Phones can link up with speakers, televisions, and Wi-Fi networks quickly for presenting and sharing information.